Rome Total War Barbarian Invasion Units ((full)) -

In Rome: Total War – Barbarian Invasion , units are defined by the era's transition from professional legionaries to more diverse, often Germanic, "barbarian" influences within and outside the empire. Elite & Game-Changing Units

Certain units are widely regarded by players at the Total War Wiki and community forums like Reddit as powerhouses:

Clibinarii Immortals (Sassanids): Frequently cited as one of the most "broken" units in the game. These heavy cavalry are nearly immune to missiles and can charge frontally into spears with minimal casualties.

Carriage Ballistae (Eastern Rome): A late-game artillery unit that is mobile and devastatingly accurate, often considered hilariously overpowered in the right hands.

Plumbatarii (Roman Empires): Unlike their mediocre counterparts in other titles, these heavy infantry are excellent, using armor-piercing lead-weighted darts (plumbata) before engaging in melee.

Graal Knights (Romano-British): The carry unit for the emergent Romano-British faction, providing heavy cavalry superiority where the rest of the roster may struggle.

Lombard Berserkers: Fearsome infantry that can rip through enemy lines, though they are vulnerable to missiles due to a lack of armor. Unit Comparison by Faction Type

Military rosters in the expansion generally fall into three categories: Faction Type Key Unit Characteristics Standout Examples Roman Empires rome total war barbarian invasion units

Heavily armored infantry; transition from Legions to Comitatenses. Comitatenses, Auxilia Palatina, Plumbatarii. Barbarian Tribes

High-offense infantry, often with unique cultural units like Berserkers or Druids.

Saxon Hearth Troops, Frankish Axe Heerbann, Celtic Gallowglasses. Nomadic Hordes Heavily reliant on horse archers and shock cavalry. Hunnic Elite Warriors, Sarmatian Armored Archers. Notable Faction Specifics Category:Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion units

Rome: Total War – Barbarian Invasion , units shift from the disciplined legions of the base game to a roster dominated by elite heavy cavalry, diverse barbarian warbands, and religious specialists. This era (363–476 AD) emphasizes heavy armor-piercing capabilities and specialized formations like the Shield Wall and Schiltrom. Top Tier Units

These units are widely considered the most effective for campaign and competitive play:

Clibinarii Immortals (Sassanid Empire): Generally ranked as the best unit in the game, these elite heavy cavalry possess massive armor and powerful charges.

Lombard Berserkers (Lombardi, Alemanni, Burgundii): Powerful light infantry that can enter a berserk state, making them devastating in melee. In Rome: Total War – Barbarian Invasion ,

Hunnic Elite Warriors (Huns): The premier horse archers of the expansion, capable of both skirmishing and acting as light shock cavalry.

Paladins (Franks): Exceptional heavy cavalry that allow the Franks to compete with the top-tier eastern factions.

Comitatenses First Cohort (Western/Eastern Rome): The backbone of the late Roman military, these heavy infantry carry the Legionary Eagle, providing morale boosts to nearby allies. Key Faction Roster Highlights

Sassanid Empire: Features the game's strongest heavy cavalry and armor-piercing units, including armored elephants and camels.

Roman Empires (Western & Eastern): Rely on heavy infantry like Auxilia Palatina and Plumbatarii (who use lead-weighted darts). They also utilize Equites Clibinarii for heavy cavalry support.

The Huns: A horde faction with a roster heavily focused on versatile, high-endurance cavalry and horse archers, though they lack strong infantry.

The Franks: Known for a versatile roster of heavy "Francisca" axe-throwing infantry and top-tier Paladin cavalry. Playing as the Huns

The Celts: Feature unique units like Gallowglasses and Hounds of Culann, though they often lack defensive shields. Specialist and Mercenary Units

Religious Units: Unique units like Monks, Priests, and Mounted Priests provide morale buffs and can help cause enemy units to rout.

Graal Knights: An extremely powerful heavy cavalry unit available to the Romano-British (and as high-end mercenaries in Britain/Gaul).

Armor Piercing (AP) Infantry: Units like Francisca Heerbann (Franks) and Chosen Axemen (Saxons/Alemanni) are essential for countering the heavily armored late-game units.

Horde Units: When barbarian factions lose their last settlement, they become a "Horde," gaining access to massive, free-upkeep units of infantry and cavalry to migrate and conquer new lands. Barbarian Invasion - Total War Wiki

2. The Shield Wall & Schiltron

BI introduced the "Shield Wall" and "Schiltron" (square) formations. This changed infantry combat from a chaotic brawl to a tactical positioning game.

Defensive Power: Units in Shield Wall (Saxon, Romano-British, Sarmatian) become immovable objects. They sacrifice attack power for massive defensive stats and morale.
The Meta: The AI struggles to flank effectively. A player using Shield Wall can anchor a battle line and grind down superior numbers of lighter infantry.

Playing as the Huns

Never Settle: You gain huge bonuses for remaining nomadic. Do not capture cities; sack them and move on.
The Hammer and Anvil: Use Horse Archers to lure the enemy infantry into chasing you (wasting their stamina). Once they are tired, charge your Heavy Cavalry into their flanks.

Eastern/Byzantine (what barbarians face)

Spear-Citizen and Heavy Spear: Formidable defensive lines.
Legionary-type Heavy Infantry / Armored Infantry: Well-armored, high morale—hard to break head-on.
Auxilia and Archers: Combined arms, supportive missile fire.
Cavalry (Cataphracts, Heavy Cavalry): Powerful shock troops that can counter barbarian cavalry.
Artillery: Defend cities and fortresses effectively.

Tactics (for defenders): Use disciplined spear/legion lines, missile support, and heavy cavalry to counter barbarian charges or horse-archers.